Semiautomatic transmission



A. G. M GUIRE SEMIAUTOMATIC TRANSMISS ION May 28, 1935.

Filed Dec.

1a, 1955 2 Sheets-Shet 1 ATTORNEY.

May 28, 1935. A. G. M GUIRE SEMIAUTOMATIC TRANsMIsmfl Filed Dec. 18, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 1 1. 5. M EUIRE ATTORNEY.

Patented May 2 8, 1935 v V H UNITED STATES PATENT FHCE g *SEMIAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Archie G. McGuire, Fort Dodge, Iowa Application December 18, 1933, Serial No. 702,952 f i': Claims. (01; 74-260) 7 This invention relates to transmissions for vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, airplanes, automotivevehicles or the like and has for its and the like. Transmissions now being used for' principal object a transmission thatwill autothese purposes by the general public require the maticallyf go into higher gears "from low gear manual operation of I the transmission for the 5 whena predetermined speed or load pull is obtaining of diflerent gear ratios." Furthermore, "5 attained and will automatically return toa lower during the shifting of the gears the clutch gear when the speed or load pull "drops to a must be disengaged, which means that no power speed' or load pull below the predetermined is being transmitted'to the'traction wheels from speed or load pull ofthe higher gear; r the motor during the time the" clutch isdisen- 10 A further object otmyinvention is topmvid e s n he ears-are bein shifted. I 10 a semi-automatic transmission that may be In other words, the rolling momentum of the manually set to provide a superhigh. vehicle must be depended-upon during the shift- A still further'object of this invention'is to ing of the ge In hilly country nd in 0011- provide atransmission that makes itfunnecessary e traffic SL101! transmissions are highly 5 to disengage theclutch when the transmission O jec i n b e a d vit is fl flm Such bj r l5 goesfrom a low gear to a higher gear or from a i IlS fl l h v Pr d d my S mi-automatic higher gear to a. lower gear. J i transmission, which I will now describe.

A still further object of this invention is to Referring to t drawings, I ve u ed the provide a semi-automatic transmission that deume al '0 t0 dES 'E-nate'the transmission house vliversfa uniform uninterrupted power while the ing andin which is: the usual lubricating oil. 20'

transmission is progressing from a low gear to Oil-the front end 01' the tra smissi n housing 7 a higher gear or from a higher gear to a lower s, a b a n member A Similar bearing gear. 7 member I2 is located at the rear end of the A still further object of my invention is to h usin The num ral 3 d s a s a up m m' provide a semi-automatic transmission that is 1561" a n internal 8 1 e h t This lip 25 economicalinmanufactureiand durable: in use. member is located in :the'rear portioniof the These and other objects will be apparent to transmission housing and has in itscenter a th skilled jt t, shaft I 5 journaled in the. bearing member 'lz Myinvention consists in the construction; ard extending 0 1 he rea end Ofthe hous rangement and combination. of the various parts ingi This shaft I5 is the transmission driven 30 of the device, whereby the objects contemplated Shaft d d d to be p y Secured are' attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, o t e elements t 10011113015 P w 6. Such as pointed outin my claims and illustrated in the traction wheels or like; The numeral l6 'de'saccompanying drawings, in which:: ignates' the motor-driven shaft designed to be mission ready for useand in neutral. This motor: shaft is journaled in the bearing Fig. 2 is an enlarged top-sectional view of a 'member H, extends the full length of the inside portion ofthe governormechanism. of the transmission housing and has its rear Fig: 3 is across-sectional view of the motorend loosely journaled in the bottom of the cup driven shaft and control sleeve thereon. member i and forward end' of the shaft l5 as 40' Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1. t k n n lin 4-4 of Fi 1, i I The numeral I1 designates a control sleeve Fig. 5 is an end View of a breaking element loosely and :slidablynmounted on the shaft l6. used in the transmission. i r This member I! hasa continuous groove ['8 and .5 Fi 6 is a cross-sectional view of'a portion a n ip al'fl s p rtion I9: Th num ral 20 of the transmission taken. on line 6-6 of. Fig. 1. designates a control shaft extending trans- Fig. 7 is a side view of. the motor-driven versely into the transmission housing and pos ishaft and certain elements th'ereon'withsectioned above the member I1. This shaft 20 is tions cut away to more fully illustrate their I r a ably mounted and has secured to it a manconstructions. V v V ually controlledlever 21 for'the manual rota- 50 Fig. '8 is va side view'of one of thecontrol tion of the samep mechanisms of the transmission. The numeral. 22 designa s W p apart Although.mytransmission-maybe used inany fingers rig dly secured to'the shaft 20. These machinery where .a transmission=t..isdesirable;it fingers extend downwardly 'and'engage the Fig. 1 is a side-sectional View of my trainsin p r v engagement w a Prime m ve 35 isparticularly designed ffor, use on automotive groove l8 at each-aside of "the: member 11, as

shown in Fig. 3. By this construction, when the lever 2| is operated the shaft 29 will be rotated and the control sleeve will thereby be slid forwardly or rearwardly on the shaft H3. The numeral 23 designates an elongated splined portion rigidly formed on the shaft IB tioned to the rear of the member H. The numeral 24 designates a second splined portion rigidly formed on the shaft [6. This splined portion 24 is positioned near. the rearend of the transmission-housing. The numerals 25 and 26 designate two key members slidably resting in two grooves in the shaft l6 respectively at points diametrically opposite from each other. These keys 25 and 26 extend longitudinally of the shaft I6, are flush with the periphery .of the shaft and progress inside the member ll and the two splined .portionsy23. and .24. The numeral 27 designates an external clutch .surrounding and slidably mounted on the'splined' The numeral 28; designates an ex' ternal clutch surrounding and-slidably mounted portion :23.

on the splined portion ;24..-The' numeral 29 designates longitudinal slots in the splined por-' tion 23. The numeral. 30 designates set screws secured .to the external clutch 21 extending through theslots 29 and threaded into the keys 25 and. 26, asv shown in Fig. 7. The numeral 3| designates longitudinalslots'in the splinedportion 24. The numeral .32 designates set screws secured. to, the external clutch- 28, extending through the slots 3| and threaded into. thekeys 25 and 26, as shownin Fig. '7. By this arrangement of parts when the keys 25- and 25 are.

slid to the rear the external clutches 21 and 28 will be slid to the rear on'the splined por tions 23 and 24 and when the. keys 25' and 26' are slid forwardly the external clutches 2'! and 28 willalso be moved forwardly 1 As the externalyclutches 2'I'and 28are slidably secured to the splined portions 23' and '24 and. are rigidly secured to. the keys 25 and 28, when the shaft.:|6 is rotated thesplined portions 23 and 24 and the external clutches 27 and 28 will be rotated :with theshaft l5.

Thenumeral 33 designates a'collarf. loosely and slidably mountedonthe shaft l6 and positioned in the inside forward jend' portion of the transmission housing. .This collar, has an-external circular groove 34 and an internal circular.

groove .35. The numeral'36 designates a lug on the forward end portion of .each of the keys 25 and 29 extending into and engaging the internal circular-groovev 35, as-shown-in Fig. '1.

'- The numeral 31 designatesa member riding in the external groove 34. -The numeral38. desi.,.-.

nates a manual control: leverrfor moving the member 31 forwardly .and-rearwardly to slide the member 33 forwardly'and rearwardlly onthe shaft IS. The. numeral 39' designates a' cup member rotatably mounted on the shaft. l6 and positioned between the splined p'ortions23 and 24. This cup member 39 faces the forward end of the transmissionhousing and has. the inner surface of its circular side welltapering inwardly as it'progresses to the rear, as shown in Fig. 1. The numeral 40 designates an internal clutch in the bottom of the cup member 39. This internal clutch '49 has adiameter much less than the (diameter of the cup member and is designed to be engaged by the external toothed clutch 21 at times. The numeral. designates an external toothedgear embracing the shaft lfi and rigidly secured on therear'bottom-ofthe cup 1 member 39. The numerali42designates av plate and posi-,

.meral 49 designates an internal cup member slidably embracing the splined portion 23. This internal cup member has the outer face of its circular side wall tapering inwardly as it progresses to therear and conforms with the general outline of the inside surface of the circular wall of the external cup member 39. The numeral 41*designatesa brake band of suitable resilient material on the outside of the circular wall portion of the internal cup member 46. The numeral 48 designates a plurality of small shafts rotatably mounted in the flange I9 and having their forward ends threaded into the internal cup member .46. vThese shafts 48 arev prevented from sliding movement relative to the flange l9 by cap screws 49 threaded into the flange and engaging peripheralgrooves 50 in the shafts 48 respectively, asfshown in Fig. 2. The .numeral 5|. designates a counter balance weight secured to each) of the shafts 48. These counter balance weights 5|..normally extend toward a common. center. as shown in Fig. 1. This normal position of the weights 5| isvyieldingly maintained by'a coil spring 52 embracing each of the shafts. 48, having one end secured to the shaft it embraces and its other end-secured to the flange I9, as shown in Fig. .2. By this-arrangement the rapid rotation of the member I! and internal cup mem ber, 46, both of which slidably engage the splined gear 23 as shown in Fig. 1, will cause the weights 5| to move and extend outwardly by centrifugal force and against the action of the. springs 52. With the movement of the weights 5| to outwardly extending positions, the shafts 48 will be rotated, which will force the internalcup member 46 away from the member Hand into engagement with the external-cup member 39. I I

The numeral 53 designates a plate member rotatablymounted on the shaft l6 and positioned to the rear of the external gear 4|. The numeral 54 designatesa plurality of shafts extending between and journaled in the plates 42 and53. Thenumeral 55 designates an external gear rotatablymounted on each of the shafts 54.. Each of these external gears 55 mesh with the external gear 4| and the internal gear teeth M of the cup member I3, as shown in Fig. 1.. The numeral 56 designates internal clutch teeth formed on the rear follows'.' By-the' use of the hand lever 38 themember 33 is forced forwardly, thereby movwiththeizeeth of the plate 53.1 with the plates 53 and 42 rotating withthe motor-driven shaft the small external-gearsSS will move me, circle around the external: gear 4| and .mside the teeth 1 4 of the cup member :I3.- .As the external gear 4 I has a diameter much .less than the diameter-of the cup, member 13 either the gear. 41. or cup member 13 must rotatetoimake' up thedii'ference in the gear ratio. With the cup member 13 operatively secured-to the traction wheels of the vehicle or likei-ts tendency will be to remain stationary, thereby increasing. the rotation of the gear ll greaterkthan the rotation of the motor-drivenwshaft: 16. However, with the shaft 15 rotating .theweights 51 will bethro'wn out bycentrifugal force,

' "which will force the'inter'nal cup mernber as. to

the'rearand in engagement with the cup mem Asthe internal cup member: :is rotating with and at ,the same speed as .themotore vdrivenwslmit "IS the tendency will be to slow the. external cupumember 39 down, therebyde- II creasingthe rapid rotationof the external :gear

4| and causing the. shaft. l-5' to rotate accordingly and relative to the amount. the external,

cup member 39 was sloweddown. This rotation'of-the shalt. I5. willbe inlow gear; With the increasing speed of rotation of theshaft li and. the lack' of load pull on the'traction' wheels internal cup: member 46 will rigidly attachitself tothe external cup. member 39, thereby locking the'external gear 4l' against independent rotation relative .to the motordriven shaft l6. When this takes place the cup member 13 will rotatedirectlywith .the motorclrivenfshafti IS and high.'.gea:r"wi1l result. Fromvthe foregoing it 'be1seen that after the transmission :was manually placed in low gear it automatically progressed to a higher gear. With'the reductionof the speed of mtation of the shaft lithe springs 52 will tend to move'theweights 5! toward their normal positions. thereby semi-releasing.- theinternal cup member: 46 from the external 'cup member 39 and. automatically returning the transmission from a higher gear to a..lower gear.

In someinstances a superhighgear'may be desired; When this Lis theme the hand lever 2| is operated to slide the member 11 tor-wardly,:it' will disengage the internal cup member 46 with the externalcup member 3!. .At this moment. the hand lever 58 is operated to tighten .thefbrake band on the external cup member 39, thereby rigidly holding it-against any rotation. With the cup member 39 held stationary the difference in gear ratio must be made up by the cup memberilarotating atfa relatively greater speed thanthe motor-driven shaft I6, thereby. producing a super high speed.

To obtain a reverse gear it :is merelynecessary to operate thehand leveri38toimovathe member 33 to the rear. This movement of the member. 33 to the rear will place the external clutch 21 into engagement with the .internaliclutch 40 and the keys .44 intolock'ing engagement with the teeth '43 of the plate 42. With the plates 42 and 53 heldagainstrotationand the gear 41 locked with'the shaft .16 the small gears 55 willnot race. around acommoncenter, but will remain in ai stationary position and be rotated by the gear 4|." As :thegear II will be rotating to the right with the..shaft..:l6 the cupmember I3 will be rotated in low gear to thelett, thereby 2,008,088 ing the; external clutch. 23f into. engagement.

resultingin reversegear. Ill-"reverse gear can alsobe obtained. .by eliminating the external gear .21 andlmerely lockingrthelplate' 42 1 against rotation .bythe keys 44;. In-thisca'setheweights 5| are-relied upon.to..-move. the .internalcup member into engagement withth-e' external cup member-:39. l -5 From: thezforegoingit'will be seenuthatlIi have provided "a highly desirable semiautomatic transmission; 1 a .Some changesmay -be..madein the 'construc-.. tion and arrangement :of. my: improved is'emi-.. automatic transmission without departing from the real spirit and purpose of Lmy inventiomand and engaging thensaid firstrmentioned. external gear'and the said internal ring igear,;a clutch mechanism-secured to said .flrst-mentione'd' ex ternal gear; governor mechanism operatively secured tosaid first shaft and said clutch-mechanism' for engaging and disengaging said clutch mechanism, an internal. clutch secured .to said plate, and an external clutch .oper'a'tively' secured to said firstshaft capable: of: being manually placed in engagement with the internal clutch on saidplate.

l 2. .Ina device of the class described, aihousing,

a. shaft-'journaled in said housing designed-I to be operatively secured to .a prime mover, a second; shaftiournaledin said housing, an internal ring:.-gear secured to :said" second shaft, a plate rotatably .mounted in said housing, an external gear rotatably mounted in said housing, asecond external gear rotatably mounted on said plate in engagement with said. first-mentioned externalygear and. said internal Jgear, aclutch mechanism inside. said: housing operatively secured to said first-mentioned external gear, a

governor mechanism operatively secured to said first shaftiand said clutch mechanismfor operating said clutch mechanism, an internal clutch secured to said plate, and an external clutch operatively secured to saidfirst shaft and cape: ble of engaging said last-mentioned internal clutch at 'times. .3 1

3. In a device of the class described, a house ing, a shaft journale'd in said housing designed to be operatively secured to a prime mover, a"

second shaftjournaledin said housing, an internal ring gearsecuredzto said second. shaft;

a plate rotatably; mounted in-said housing, an external gear rotatably mounted in said housing,

a plurality of external gears rotatably mounted,

on said plate and in engagementwith said firstmentioned external gear jandsaid internal gear, a clutch mechanism insidesaidhousing operatively secured to said first-mentioned external gear, a governor mechanism operativelyi secured to said first shaft and said clutch mechanism for operating. said clutch. mechanism, an internal clutch secured to saidsplate, and an external j clutch 'operatively secured to. said. first shaft and. capable, of i I engaging said last-mentioned internal clutch atitlmes.

4. In a deviceof thev class ;,described,.ahousing, a shaft designed to beoperatively secured to aprime moverrjournaled in said housing, a

internal gear at points diametrically opposite.

from each other, a clutch mechanism inside said housing operatively: connected toisaid toothed gear, a governor mechanism insidesaid' housing operatively connected to" said first shaft'and said clutch mechanism for actuating said clutch mechanism,a clutch secured to said plate, a clutch operatively secured. to said first shaft capable of being manually placed in engagement with said last-mentioned clutch, and a manual means for locking said toothed gear against rotation at times. L- v i 5. In a device of the class described, a'housing, ashaft designed to be operativelysecured to a prime-mover journaled in said housing, a second shaft journaled in said. housing, an in-. ternal ring gear secured to said second shaft, 2. plate rotatablymounted in said housing, a toothed gear rotatably mounted in saidhousing, a toothed gear rotatably mounted on saidiplate in engagement with said toothedgear and said internal gear at points diametrically opposite from each other, a clutch mechanism inside'said housing operatively connected to said toothed gear, a governormechanisminside said housing operatively connected to said first shaft andsaid clutch mechanism for actuating said clutch mechanism, a clutch secured to said .p1ate,a clutch operatively secured to said first shaft capable of being manuallyplaced. in engagement with said last-mentioned clutch, a manual means for disengagingsaid clutch, and amanual means for locking said toothed gear againstrotation.

6. In a deviceof the class described, a housing; a shaftjournaled in said housing designed to be operatively connected to a prime mover, a second shaftrotatably mounted in said housing, an internal ring gear secured to said second shaft, a plate rotatably mounted in said'housing, a toothed gear rotatably" mounted in said housing, a gear rotatably mounted on said plate in engagement with said toothed gear and said in ternal ring gear-,a clutch mechanism inside said housing operatively connected to said toothed gear, a governor mechanism inside said housing operatively connected to said first shaft and said clutch mechanism for actuating said clutch mechanism, amanually operated means for plac ing said clutch -mechanismin engagement at times, an internal clutch secured to said plate, and a'toothed" clutch secured to'said first shaft capable of being'manually placed in engagement with said last-mentioned -internal clutch.

H 7. In a device'of-the class described, a housing, a shaft journaled in said housing designed to be operatively connecte'd'to-a prime mover, a second shaft in said housing, an internal gear secured 'to saidlsecond shaft, a plate rotatably mounted in'said housing, a second plate rotatably mounted in said housing, aplurality-of shafts extendingbetween andsecuredto said first and second plates, iani external .gear rotatably mounted on each of said shafts in engagement with said internal ring. gear, .aitoothed gear.

rotatably mounted in -said housing inengagement with each of said external. gears rotatably mounted on theshaftslext'ending between said two plate members, an'internal clutch secured to said first-mentioned: plate, an externalfclutch operatively connected to said first shaft capable of 'being manuallyplacediin engagement with said last-mentioned. internal clutch, a clutch mechanism inside said. housing operatively. se-

cured tosaid toothed, gear, av governor'mechanism inside said-housing operatively connected to said first shaft andsaid, clutch, mechanism, and. a. manual means for locking said plates against rotation and operatively connecting said toothed gear toisaid first shaft-at times.

8." Ina device of the class described, a housing, a, shaft journaledin said housing designed to be operatively connected-to a. prime mover, a second shaft in said housing, an internal gear secured to said second shaft, a plate, rotatably mounted in said housing, a second plate rotatably mounted in said housing, a plurality of shafts extending between and-secured to said first and second plates, an external. gear. rotatablyz'mounted on each of said shafts innengagement'awith said internal ring gear, a toothed gear rotatably mounted in said housing .in engagement'with each of said external. gears rotatably mounted on the shafts extending between said twov plate members, an internal clutch secured to said first.- mentioned'plate, an externalclutch operatively connected to said first shaft capable ofbeing manually placed in engagement with said lastmentioned internal clutch, acup member rotatably mounted in said housingrigidl'y secured to said toothed gear, an'internal'cup member operatively secured to saidfirst shaftextending into said first. cup member. and. capable of friction ally engaging said first cup member when moved in one. direction, and a governor mechanism --inside said housing operatively connected-tov said first shaft for reciprocating said internal cup member. 1

9. In a device of the class'described, a housing,-a shaft journaled in said housing designed to be, operatively connected to a prime mover, a second shaft inqsaid housing, an internal gear securedto. saidsecond shaft, a plate rotatably mounted in said housing, a second 'plate' rotatably mounted in. said housing, a pluralityof shafts extending'between and secured to said first and second plates,an external gear rotatably mounted on. each of said shafts in engagement with said internal ring gear, a toothed gear rotatably mounted-in said housing in engagement with each of said external gears rotatably mounted on the shafts extendingbetween said two plate members, an internalclutch secured to said first-mentionedplate, an external clutch operatively connected to saidfirst shaft capable of being manua11yplacedin engagement with said last-mentioned internal clutch, a cup memmechanism inside said housingoperatively connectedtosaid firstf shaft for reciprocating said internal cup member," an internal clutch secured to. said first-mentioned cup member,'an external clutch operatively secured "to said first shaft capable of being manuallymoved into engagement with said last-mentioned internal clutch, and. a manual means for. locking said plates against. rotation. "1 x 10. In a device of the class described, a housing, a shaft journaled in said housing designed to be operatively secured to a prime mover, a second shaft journaled in said housing, a plate rotatably mounted in said housing, a clutch on said plate, a clutch operatively secured to said first shaft and capable of being manually moved into engagement with said plate clutch, a second internal ring gear secured to said second shaft, a toothed gear rotatably mounted in said housing, an external gear rotatably mounted to said plate in engagement with said last-mentioned internal ring gear and said toothed gear, a cup member rigidly secured to said toothed gear having the inner surface of its circular side wall tapering inwardly as it progresses toward the bottom of the cup member, an internal cup member operatively secured to said first shaft having the outer surface of its circular side wall tapering inwardly as it extends away from its bottom, and a governor mechanism operatively secured to said first shaft and said internal 'cup member for moving said internal cup member into l0 engagement with said external cup member.

ARCHIE MCGUIRE. 

